LIRR’s Cannonball moving to Penn Station

New York media late Wednesday marveled over the planned return this summer of the sole "name" train on the Long Island Rail Road: The Cannnonball. More relevant to potential passengers is the venerable train's reassigned western origin point: New York-Penn Station.

Schedules and other information are due out Thursday from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, LIRR's parent agency, detailing the service, which will depart from Penn Station at 4:07 p.m. on summer Friday evenings bound for points on Long Island's South Fork, terminating at Westhampton Beach. Return express service will be offered Sunday evenings westbound. The service usually commences during the Memorial Day weekend.

The Cannonball's traditional starting point had been LIRR's Hunterspoint Avenue Station in Long Island City (Queens), across the East River from Manhattan and far less convenient for many riders, but allowing for diesel locomotive service. The new service will have to change motive power at some point on its route to (or from) electric-powered consists to diesel power.

The Cannonball also offers Hamptons Reserve reservations for an additional fee; the service includes reserved seating and beverage and snack service.